Book.



J. M. POPE.

' BOOK. 7 APYLIOATION FILED AUG. 31, 1910.

1,012,429. Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

J. M. POPE.

BOOK.

APPLICATION TILED AUG. 31, 1910. 1,012,429. Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I awuontoz with moses 62 zf/j l/(d/ l/ 7 1554 W 0 JOHN M. POPE, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

Application filed August 31, 1910. Serial No. 579,890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN M. Porn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have mvented certain new and useful Improvements in Books, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements 1n books and has particular reference to a book each sheet of which may contain printed matter of any kind whatever, to which repeated and quick reference may be made with the use of but one hand if desired.

In manylines of business it is desirable to accumulate data useful to the particular business for instant reference and particularly is this true where in oflices rates, tables or schedules are constantly used, and it is desirable to arrange such subject matter in a form that will enable it to be speedily examined and with as little effort as possible.

The present invention therefore has for its object to provide an improved arrangement of leaves or sheets bound in such a way as to be readily opened at any desired point which sheets or leaves will contain the printed matter desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for a book having an index whereby a large number of sheets may be employed, in a minimum of space.

With these and other objects in view the accompanying drawings illustrate the invention wherein Figure 1, is a perspective view of the improved book, resting upon a desk for ready reference; the book being opened as for inspection. Fig. 2, is an edge view of the book closed. Fig. 3, is an enlarged plan view ofthe book, the cover being swung open to expose the various leaves or sheets in the flat condition. Fig. 4, shows the book with the upper and lower covers swung out and the leaves or sheets spread apart between the two book sections, and Fig. 5, is an enlarged detail showing several sheets or leaves and the relative positions of their hinged connections with their stub ends.

Referring to the drawings the numeral, 1, designates the sheet or leaf of any suitable material and of which there may be as .many as desired or convenient to make up.

the book. Each sheet or leaf is attached to a stub, 2, the joint, 3, between the two forming a hinge so that the sheet or leaf may be swung with respect to the stub that carries it. The particular manner of forming the hinge joint, 3, between the stubs and the sheets or leaves is immaterial and may vary in construction and the invention is not to be restricted in this respect. By reference to Fig. 5, it will be noted that the stubs are not of equal length butgradually increase in length from the uppermost stub downward to a point hereinafter to be referred to. The sheets or leaves, 1, however, are substantially of a uniform length so that when the stubs and their attached sheets are laid one on top of the other, the longer stub being directly beneath the next shorter stub, the free ends of the respective sheets will project slightly beyond the sheet immediately above it. By reference to Fig. 3, it will be noted that a portion of the free edge, 4:, of each sheet forms a tab, 5, which projects beyond the remaining portion of said edge so that each sheet has its own tab. It will also be seen by reference to Fl 's. 1 and 3 that the tab of one sheet has position in a vertical plane to one side of the tab of the next adjacent sheet or leaf and by this means every sheet maybe readily identified by the identification mark or marks on its tab which is at once visible. It will thus be seen that each succeeding under sheet or leaf projects slightly beyond the free edge of the sheet next above it and consequently the length of the book gradually increases from the outermost shortest stub to the innermost longest stub.

By reason of the above described construction it will be seen that the more sheets or leaves used the longer the book would ordinarily be and in many instances where a large number of sheets are necessary the book would be awkward and unhandy to operate. By means of my improved construction I am enabled to bind together a large number of sheets while maintaining the width or length of the book within the size for half the number of sheets thus bound. By referring to Figs. 2 and 4 it will be seen that the stub at the center, 6, of the book is the longest; that the next stubs at each sideare slightly shorter and that progressing from the center outwardly in both directions the stubs gradually diminish in length untilthe shortest outermost stubs are reached. The leaves or sheets however, are all of substantially the same length and consequently the outer free edge of each sheet is exposed. By this arrangement it will be seen that from the'center of the book outwardly in one direction the leaves or sheets will swing in one direction from the stubs while from the center outwardly in the other direction the leaves or sheets will swing from their stubs in a reverse direction and by turning the book over first one set and then the other of the sheets or leaves may be inspected; the book, however, will not be longer than would be necessary if only those leaves from the shortest stub to the 'longest center stub were used.

The particular manner of securing the sheets or leaves together is immaterial to the present invention and may beaccomplished in any suitable way but after they are secured'it is desirable that a suitable cover orbinding be attached to protect them and at the same time aid in the practical operation of the book as a whole.

By reference ;to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the binding comprises a back, 7

, that-extends around the allned edges, 8, of

the stubs and is suitably attached thereto and that said back has two pivotally. connected sides 9 and 1 0 respectively which e'xtendover the shortest stubs and outermost sheet,-the sides being suitably hinged or pivoted to the back at 11, in any well known manner. An end portion, 12, is hinged to the forward end of each side and by reason of its hinged connection will lie close against and over the tabs of the respective sheets 'and prevent dust and dirtfrom collecting on the sheet ends. Obviously if the stiif side 9 or 10, extended all the way out'over the farthermost tab there would be a considerable space between the inner side of the pover end and the tabs because the combinedends of all the sheets forman inclined surface over the tabs when the book ;is lying flat on a table or desk.

In operation the end portion 12,, of the cover and the side attached thereto will be turned back as indicated in Fig. 1, and the finger of the operator will be inserted be- 'neath the particular tab of the sheet conthe particular tab and then throw all the previous sheets back while the other hand will be free to make any notes from the matter on the sheet inspected. a

A book of this character is particularly useful in making out tax bills in municipal The tax rate for the year bein detcrmined the sheets will be rinted s owing the total amounts of the bllls and assessments from five dollars up and the tab of each sheet will bear the amount of the lowest readily copy the total on the bill head. By

this means an enormous amount of labor is saved.

Having thus described my invention what I claim, is

1. A book comprising a plurality of sheets secured at one end only and the op osite end of each sheet being free and havmg a short tab that projects beyond the remaining portion of said sheet-end, and the free end of the outermost sheet terminating short of the tab on the next sheet to it whereby to leave the said-latter tab exposed and a cover about the secured-together sheets and havinga joint between its attached and free ends and the-free end of the cover-being movable independently of its attached end. 2. A book comprising a plurality of sheets secured at one edge and having their oppo: site edges free and the free edge of the outermost sheet having position in a plane between the secured and free edges of intermediate sheets beneath it and the said intermediate sheets having exposed tabs that project therefrom and beyond sheets between it and ,the said outermost sheet and a cover about the secured ends of the sheets and having a hinged portion that covers the said outermost sheet and said cover also having a front portion that is normally connected to the forward part of the hinged portion and the front portion of the cover extending over and covering the tabs on the ends of the intermediate sheets.

3. A book comprising 'a plurality of intel-posed stubs which successively increase in most stub at the other side ofthe book and each stub having a sheet attached thereto,- the free edge of each of the sheets having a tab which on the sheets from the central In testimon whereof I afiix my signature loggest sheetsbto thg otllllternlilgst shes); at on; in presence 0 two witnesses. si e roject eyon e s ets a ve an from said central longest sheets to the outer- JOHN POPE 5 most sheet at the other side project beyond Witnesses:

the sheets below, and a. cover about the J on W. Hswns, sheets. CHARLES B. MANN, Jr. 

